The donation will be in the form of two new team grants and an event partner support grant for high school teams and partners participating in the VEX Robotics Competition,a global curriculum-based robotics program and competition supported and delivered through the REC Foundation.

“STEM programs like VEX provide valuable skills and give students the hands-on experience that allows them to excel in technical careers like arc welding,” said NEMA Arc Welding Chairman Bruce Albrecht.

“Partnerships with organizations like NEMA are critical to the continued success of the VEX Robotics Competition. Through these partnerships, students see how their exposure to STEM skills and experience in robotics translates into real-world application across a variety of industries,” said Jason Morrella, president of the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation.

In order for new teams of students to compete in the VEX Robotics Competition, they often need support for annual registration, event competitions, and VEX Robotics Competition kits. The grant funded by NEMA’s donation gives students access to all they need to get started. The team grants will provide technical high schools a VEX Robotics Classroom and Competition Super Kit, which includes everything needed to design, build, power and operate a competition robot. The REC Foundation partners with a number of organizations to run sustainable events and the event partner support grant will provide one such partner all the materials they need to host a local VEX Robotics Competition.

The NEMA Arc Welding Section values the development and investment in students interested in STEM.

About the REC Foundation

The REC Foundation seeks to increase student interest and involvement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by engaging students in hands-on, sustainable and affordable curriculum-based robotics engineering programs across the U.S. and internationally. The REC Foundation develops partnerships with K-12 education, higher education, government, industry, and the non-profit community to achieve this work. More information about the REC Foundation is available at www.roboticseducation.org.

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The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) represents nearly 350 electrical, medical imaging, and radiation therapy manufacturers at the forefront of electrical safety, reliability, resilience, efficiency, and energy security. Our combined industries account for more than 400,000 American jobs and more than 7,000 facilities across the United States. Domestic production exceeds $117 billion per year.